A double-edged sword : a quest for a place in the African sun : archival records on the formation and missions of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa

In the words of the author, ""this book addresses an era that has since gone by, yet, in my humble view, it remains relevant to those who are interested in the recent history of the position of the institution of traditional leadership, especially at the time of transition from apartheid to democracy."" When the late Professor Fatima Meer, then at the University of Natal, came across a file containing some documents pertaining to Holomisa's involvement in the activities of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) she immediately insisted that he publish it in book form, an idea that was also strongly supported by Dr Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. The book consists of three parts: Part 1: The Consolidation of Contralesa Part 2: Speeches and Addresses by Nkosi Holomisa Part 3: Contralesa statements A biographical profile of, and note from, the author; an editorial note by Professor Pearl Mpile Sithole of the University of KwaZulu-Natal; a Foreword by President Jacob Zuma; a list of acronyms used in the book; an introduction by Dr Winnie Madikizela Mandela; a prologue by the author; three sections of photographs of prominent South African monarchs; an appendices; an epilogue and genealogical trees of South Africa's monarchs make this book a most comprehensive study of Contralesa's role in the era of the mass Democratic Movement's struggles in the late 1980s, the period of the unbanning of liberation movements and the release of their leaders from jail, as well as the post-1994 era of Nelson Mandela.